"Sarojin Stirs the Waters"

Log Date:
	11/15/00

Log Cast:
	Sarojin, Kaiulani, Akane (NPC emitted by Kaiulani), Ronan (NPC
emitted by Kaiulani), Sangwyn (NPC emitted by Sarojin)

Log Intro:
	A hitherto unprecedented event has taken place.
	Kaiulani's mysterious protector has finally reached out to her,
coaxing her into his presence, to a hidden tunnel along Haven's shore. There 
he's given her a new gift: the necklace he'd bought for her in the Rialto, 
transformed by the work of his hands into a delicate headdress of silver and 
emerald to accent her brow and her hair. But the impact of this latest lovely 
offering of his is almost inconsequential, compared to the other gift he
has given her:
	His voice.
	He has joined it to hers and to that of her pipes in song, much to
Kaiulani's shock and delight. And he has _spoken_ to her, short words, but
words nonetheless... and even with those few syllables, even without a face
to which to attach the deep, rich baritone in which they were uttered, the 
Pandion maiden has become captivated all over again by her unknown guardian.
	And she's been in soaring spirits ever since. Oh, she's well aware
that the incident will have been reported to her cousin by her guardsmen...
but in the giddy state she's in, she can barely bring herself to care. At
least, until her cousin and Decemvir finally summons her into his presence,
and reveals what his response will be to this latest appearance of his young
kinswoman's nameless stalker....

*===========================< In Character Time >===========================* 
             Time of day:  Night (Dawnside) 
          Date on Aether:  Sunday, May 26, 3907. 
           Year on Earth:  1507 A.D. 
       Phase of the Moon:  Full 
                  Season:  Spring 
                 Weather:  Clear Skies 
             Temperature:  Warm 
*==========================================================================*

Eastern Bay - Haven Bay - Ocean
        Although the waters here are calm, those directly to the north are 
  distinctly treacherous. Slow-rolling waves are simply swells in the calm 
  bay, but nearer the shore rough rocks thrust from the ocean's bottom, 
  churning each swell into a frothy mass of foam and wild currents.
        At this distance it is almost facinating to watch. The bay of Haven 
  stretches out to the west, its mouth opening just north and west of her into 
  the unfettered ocean. Ships rarely tack through, choosing to avoid the rocky 
  eastern area for the path that heads straight to the docks. Further east, 
  the beach becomes cliffs and offers no shelter but for the adventerous few 
  that would brave injury to explore the caves worn there by water, wind, and 
  time.
Contents:
Sarojin
Obvious exits:
Beach <B>  Dive <DI>  West <W>

Solemn silence holds court among the chill spring rain that filters through 
  the gathering gloom. A viel of wetness that dimples the roiling whitecaps 
  that ride the turbulant surface of the sea. Out of the flinging spray rises 
  two guards, leading the young Kaiulani with implacable sterness. A ladder 
  has been lowered in expectation of ther arrival. Upon the deck loom the dark 
  obsidian throne that contrasts so with the pale King that commands it. A 
  void of blackness shudders in an aura about the man in ominous patience. 
  Anger and strained exasperation. Yet lingering behind is a helpless feeling 
  of amusment. Those strange eyes fixated upon the space where Kaiulani's head 
  is sure to appear.

All winter, the girl has behaved herself -- ever since, in fact, the incident 
  in the city where she was rendered unconscious and her guardsman was 
  attacked by an unseen assailant. Not a single outcry has Kaiulani raised 
  about this, and indeed, ever since then, there's been an absence of trouble 
  surrounding her... until now. It is, perhaps, as if the recurring nuisance 
  that is her 'protector' had holed up somewhere for the winter, re-emerging 
  now that it is spring.

Kaiulani's arrival onto the ship, as she climbs over the side and onto the 
  deck in the company of her two guards, demonstrates one thing rather 
  clearly. Despite her good behavior over the winter season, the girl's aware 
  that she may be in trouble. Her sea-green gaze shows this as she sweeps it 
  across the deck, everywhere but to the two who accompany her, stone-faced 
  Akane and the ever so slightly nervous Ronan. But her chin is held high as 
  she comes forward to her cousin, until she's within range to incline her 
  head respectfully to him.

*You sent for me, cousin?*

Her winter hasn't been spent in vain: her mind's voice is stronger and surer. 
  Somewhere, she's learning control. But not quite enough to conceal the 
  electric current of intermingled nervousness and excitement lurking just 
  under her thoughts.

Fingers steeple below the chisel edge of Sarojin's chin. A mental voice that 
  sidles into her senses with the deft touch of adepthood. A brush of 
  droplets across the innerworkings of her mind. Yet each point mangifies into 
  tangible content in an explosion sensation and ice sculpted meaning. *You 
  had done well. That impish beast inside you seems to have only been 
  hibernating though.* A finger crooks. Urging her closer. The sheen of rain 
  causing the man to glow eerily beneath the wan light of the flayling 
  latterns. *It is this boy again isn't it? The one you have the unhealthy 
  obsession over. What would you have me do?* Tendril of contorted menace 
  weave the last question.

Kaiulani's fine pale brows knit in a glimmer of consternation; it disturbs 
  her, clearly, to hear the strange bond she shares with her unseen protector 
  described as an obsession. The delicate muscles of her throat flex, and so 
  do her gills, as she steps forward as bidden. But she does not look away, 
  despite her detectable unease. Nor does she bother inquiring whether Akane 
  and Ronan have reported her latest encounter with the nameless one to their 
  Decemvir; flighty as the maiden often is, even she possesses a grasp of when 
  it is fruitless to ask the obvious. *I am certain it was he, cousin,* she 
  replies as evenly as she can manage.

A slow nod of acceptance brings tendrils of spun silver cascading across his 
  brow and cheek. Liquid moonlight among brittle hard bone. *Yet, I have 
  forbidden you to have anything to do with him. How do you reconcile these 
  two facts?* Two open palms sway back and forth as if balancing two unseen 
  weights. *I suppose I shall have to take more drastic measure for you to 
  realize the error of your ways.* An insiduous pause languishes into the 
  space between sendings. The air shivering in memory of what flitted through 
  it in the space between seconds. Color swathed words. *Unless you wish to 
  set yourself a suitable punishment. Choose and I will consider.* Palid 
  digits twining to rest across the flat plane of his middle.

Behind Kaiulani, the tiniest of smirks curls the mouth of the guardsman Akane; 
  his younger, smaller brother merely tries to do his best to look stoic. The 
  pair of them have not been on easy terms this past winter with the 
  headstrong maiden... and by extension, with each other. But Kai steadfastly 
  ignores her two _official_ protectors, focused entirely upon the words of 
  her kinsman -- whose sent words provoke a ripple of dread down her spine. 
  *You... did,* she acknowledges, chin lifting a little higher. Somewhere, 
  just perhaps, the girl may well have been picking up an ability to face the 
  consequences of her actions. *But with all due respect, cousin... I didn't 
  seek him out. He sought me. And under the circumstances -- I thought it best 
  to try to talk to him, as you did say you wanted him questioned!* There's a 
  sense of haste about all of these words of hers, as though Kai's anxious to 
  get them thought out as quickly as possible, believing speed might lend 
  strength to her argument. But once she's through it, she squares her dainty 
  shoulders and concludes, *I'll accept whatever punishment you deem 
  appropriate.* Her eyes go a little dark at this, regardless. After all, she 
  may well be about to get herself sent home.

A single elegant spire of a finger taps a thoughtful cadence against the thin 
  carmine line of his lips. *I suspected you would say as much. What I have 
  for you is another protector. A guard. His sole purpose is to stand at your 
  side at all times and if he feels you are putting yourself in danger he is 
  given permission to lift you up and carry you away." A languid hand drifts 
  upward to indicate a dark shadow that hesitates just on the edge of sight. 
  *Come forward Sangwyn.*

Stepping through the curtain of tumbling droplets is a broad shouldered man. A 
  blossom of wildfire tangles in the sultry wind that stirs the rain. Rippled 
  blackness of flesh glints in the ambient glow of that pervades the ship. 
  Deep sea green eyes center a well sculpted mien that is set with rigid, if 
  uncertain, dedication. A strong mental voice that throbs into the evening 
  offers up, *Lady. I am here to serve.* A well pracited bow evolves his 
  posture. At his side dangles worked sea shells, obviously meant to give 
  sound to air. Deep eyes caress her coutenance with the care of a 
  painter's brush.

Albeit by a fraction, Akane's smirk grows a little wider for all that he 
  maintains a stiff posture of attention. Absolutely no surprise registers in 
  his darkly handsome face; nor is there any upon the homelier one of his 
  brother, but Ronan's eyes betray a hint of discomfort as he shoots a glance 
  to the white maiden who is his and his sibling's charge.

As for Kaiulani, she jolts visibly, eyes going wide in her fine-boned face in 
  increased stirrings of alarm. For a moment or two her own mental presence in 
  this gathering goes blank -- she's been working on tamping down her 
  emotional broadcasts, and the fruits of her practice now come forth. But she 
  cannot conceal her astonishment when she at last finds her mind's voice once 
  more. To the stranger, she manages a wan *Blessings* -- but right back to 
  Sarojin, undercurrents of sharp dismay beneath her thoughts and behind her 
  eyes, she appends, *Cousin... I don't _need_ another...* _I don't need 
  -another- nursemaid!_ her innermost thoughts wail in rebellion, and with the 
  greatest of efforts, she forces that down into the very bottom of her mind. 
  This doesn't leave her much strength with which to conclude, *I mean... I 
  should think that Akane and Ronan have proven adequate to the task of 
  guarding me. I AM still in one piece!* Attacks by wild dogs in the dead
  of winter notwithstanding.

A negligent hand waves away her objections. *I have spoken. Do not blame him, 
  it is I who have set this task before him. He did not request it. In fact I 
  suspect he would rather not have to babysit you.* The sliver of a smile that 
  stretches Sarojin's lips speaks well enough to the knowledge of her 
  thoughts. Perhaps he was able to skim their essence away, or mayhap it was 
  just a well placed guess. *You will accept him graciously. I will not have 
  his feelings hurt by your rejection.* Tone tightening into a coiled viper. 
  *Noble blood simmers in your veins. Act the part.* The last admonishment 
  comes as a crashing wave.

Sangwyn takes a few more steps forward. There is hesitance there but it fails 
  to mar the grace that was tamed for the seas but fits his stride well 
  enough. Teeth flash in a shy smile of greeting as he takes his place at 
  Kaiulani's side for the first time. The ship groaning in empathy for the 
  maiden who is newly burdened below. The resonating tone echoes within the 
  confines of her thoughts. *I am sorry. Perhaps it won't be so bad.* Tip of 
  his tongue flits out to wet suddenly dry lips. *I must say I shall be the 
  envy of all the guard. To have to have to watch you the day through seems 
  more gift then duty. For my eyes at least.* Finger working along his trident.

Did _they_ know about this? Kaiulani flashes a look left, then a look right, 
  trying to gauge the expressions of her other guardsmen. Akane's smirk 
  vanishes the moment her gaze flashes across his face, though the memory of 
  it remains in a barely detectable glint in his eyes; Ronan, by contrast, 
  offers her a tiny wisp of a smile, both corners of his mouth turning up for 
  a moment in an attempt to help convince her to make the best of this. 
  Finding no help from either of the young men, Kai's attention reluctantly 
  returns to this newcomer before her. Sarojin's rebuke prompts no thought 
  reply from her, but it does make her stand up a little straighter and brings 
  a coral flush to her cheeks -- a reaction she can't suppress, even after 
  months of practicing the containment of her thoughts. But it's Sangwyn's 
  apparently open and earnest greeting that unbends her enough to reply, 
  *Thank you, I...* Then the _rest_ of what he's said to her begins to sink 
  in. Wait a minute. He's _complimenting_ her, isn't he? Her blush deepens; 
  this, after years of being on the fringe of her family circle and months of 
  living under strict enough guard in Haven, her exposure to young men has 
  been limited at best. But she is nobly bred, and she summons up enough poise 
  reply, *I hope you'll think the same after weeks of having to put up with 
  me.* Then her gaze creeps back to her cousin. *Are they all to guard me, 
  then, when I leave the Korallion?*

Sarojin drifts into quiet as he lets the brew he has stirred up began to mix. 
  Content to observe with those changeable eyes of shimmering opalescence. 
  Moss agate cradling the dark opals of his pupils.

*Think? I am unsure if I shall be capable of such with the vision of you 
  floating forever before me.* Silk of dark rust sways with a shake of his 
  head, attempting to shake off a strange fugue. *I apologize for such untoward 
  thoughts, Lady.* Those steady eyes of earnest depths flick toward his 
  master. A message filtered into that connection. It is then he that replies. 
  *No. One of the brothers will accompany. They will alternate. I shall always 
  be at your side. I am afraid you shall soon weary of me. But I am bound by 
  duty.* Subtle reluctance for that eventuality snarls with untamed hope for 
  what the future might bloom into.

Sarojin then rises to his feet, emenating clear dimissal. *That is all.* In a 
  pearlescent flurry he spins and departs. Leaving the rest to sort themselves 
  out.

_Another_ compliment -- and Kaiulani flushes pink again, the alarm she'd felt 
  at her cousin's earlier words now beginning to transfer itself to this 
  stranger who's been foisted upon her. All she can think for a moment is 
  _Akane and Ronan don't act like him!_ There is neither the disdain of the 
  older brother nor the earthy shyness of the younger -- and even as she 
  clings to the outer demeanor of a noblewoman's grace, inwardly, unaccustomed 
  to being so warmly received, Kaiulani begins to panic. Just a little. But 
  panic nonetheless.

_Waters, what have I gotten myself into...?!_

[End log.]